Colorful umbrellas hung in the hallways, and a dragon statue awaited students as they filled up their plates at Fountain Dining Hall’s “Taste of Korea” event. The menu featured Korean cuisine such as bibimbap rice bowls, chow mein noodles and cucumber kimchi.
“We got a lot of favorable comments, so it’s been a good night,” said Crayton Garrel, the general manager of Fountain Dining Hall. Garrel estimated that there were about 1,900 people in attendance.
In the dining areas, paper decorations dangled from the ceilings, and posters sporting facts about Korea covered the walls.
Sang Kim, a freshman studying mechanical engineering, said, “I thought [the decorations] were cool. You don’t get to see many decorations [in Fountain] often, so it’s nice to see the place liven up. It’s definitely jam-packed today. It’s fun to meet new people; there were plenty of people in the line today that I had never seen before.”
Many students in attendance had heard about the event, but did not know what to expect from it.
“I wasn’t really expecting much, I just came in with an open mind,” Kim said.
For some, the event was an opportunity to learn about Korea.
“I think that the Taste of Korea is a great experience for NC State students to have,” said Nick Loschin, a freshman studying environmental science. “It exposes them to different kinds of food and I’m really glad that University Dining did it. Everything tastes pretty good, and I can’t wait to see what else they have in store for us.”
Nash Martens, a sophomore studying computer science, said the event surpassed his expectations.
“It was better than I was expecting,” Martens. “The rice bowl was really good. I think I’ll definitely look to try [Korean food] now. I’ve tried other Asian foods, but never really Korean.”
Rong Wang, a graduate student studying computer science, contrasted the meal with Chinese food, saying that Korean food is sweet while Chinese food is salty. However, he mentioned that there are several varieties of Chinese cuisine, with some types being even sweeter than that of Korea.
“I thought the way the served the food added to the experience,” said Brianna Reeves, a freshman studying life sciences, especially noting the Korean rice bowls. “Everything was real traditional and they didn’t mix in American foods with the Korean foods.”
Andrew Shon, a sophomore studying computer science, summed up the evening by saying, “It was a good thing, what NC State dining was trying to do, trying to bring more cultural awareness. While the food may not be as authentic as it should be, it’s still a great experience for people to have.”
Fountain Dining Hall hosted, "A Taste of Korea" dinner Wednesday. Cherry blossoms and bamboo decorated the lobby, while ceilings were adorned with traditional parasols, or yangsan. Just less than 2,000 people were estimated to be in attendance to the theme dinner by the end of the night, according to General Manager Crayton Garrell.
